Page 67 of Lovewell Lane

We met each other at the counter, and I started ringing him out. “Haven’t seen it this busy since when we were kids,” he said, gesturing at the sidewalk and street filled with cars and people.

“Yeah, the diner seems to have brought in lots of interest.”

He scoffed. “Hopefully not for long.”

I furrowed my brow at him. “It’s helping the community a lot and proves that new businesses can survive in Honeyfield. It’ll take some getting used to, but it’s good for everyone.”

“Glad you think so.” He dropped cash on the counter and left without another word. While my family was welcoming of newcomers, others in town didn’t always share the same sentiment. They’d come around eventually.

I glanced at Margo one last time before getting back to work. I’d deal with Sam after he blew off some steam.

At lunch, I couldn’t stop myself from walking over to see my new BFF. I walked into the diner only for Margo’s server to help me, I nearly balked when she asked what I wanted to order. Usually, Margo picked something out for me. I grabbed the menu and picked the first thing I saw.

Margo looked like a whirlwind as she walked back and forth past the bar with a purpose. It seemed like she was all smiles with everyone except for me.

Finally, she stopped at the bar counter I was sitting at to greet me. I looked up to say hello when I found her looking at the man next to me. I’d never even seen him before. She gave him a sweet smile and called him by his first name.

Was this the asshole she told me she wanted to be friends for?

I looked the idiot up and down as she walked away. He looked like he belonged in an office building fetching coffee for the real people in charge. His shirt wasn’t even tucked in, and he had a stain on his lapel.

What a fucking loser.

Margo came back to set down my plate in front of me and gave me a quick smile. “Hey, Derek.”

“Hey,” I said gruffly. I took an aggressive bite of my sandwich as I watched her turn to the loser and ask him how work was going.

The guy was practically falling over his words to talk to her. He leaned forward in his seat, hanging onto her every breath. I nearly lost my appetite. Only I could look at her like that, when anyone else did it, it was just plain pathetic.

“Are you coming home on time today?” I asked. I didn’t know what had come over me.

Margo looked surprised. “Yeah, should be,” she said like it was a question.

“Good, Tessa and I will be waiting.”

Her face turned from confusion to annoyance when she realized what I was doing. I had no shame. If she was going to flirt with some loser in front of me, he needed to prove himself worthy. Which was the exact opposite of what the guy did. He looked over at me and quickly turned back to his salad—who the fuck orders a salad at a diner—and didn’t speak to Margo again.

-

Town hall meetings were always boring, useless, and painful. I walked into the building with a coffee and a book in hand. I always sat near the back, so I didn’t get called out for not paying attention. However, I still wanted to look present since Weston Farms was a pillar of the town after all.

Sam walked in soon after me and decided to sit on a different pew. The Town Hall building was built almost one hundredyears ago. Its architecture was more reminiscent of a church rather than a government building.

I guessed Sam was still pissed off from earlier. It didn’t help that Lila walked in soon after and sat right next to him. When Margo appeared, I was shocked and leaned back in my seat. I hadn’t seen her show up to any of these before. She chose to sit across the room from me in the pew right next to Lila. Sam looked over at me with a snarky smile that told me he felt like he’d won our argument.

Andy saved me from further embarrassment by sitting next to me. “Should be interesting today.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Apparently the Festival hasn’t sold many tickets. The mayor might have to cancel the Festival, whether you participate or not.”

23

Margo

I thought town hall meetings were for politicians in suits and ties. Filing in slowly were all of the prominent characters that I’d met since moving to Honeyfield. Every business owner, including Amelia, walked in. Family members of those business owners. Non-business owners showed up as well, the outspoken mothers that I’d met through opening the diner filed in last. They always formed a small coalition and swarmed around several tables every time they ate at Lucky’s.

Scanning the room, I quickly discovered Derek sitting next to Andy, who I learned over time was his good friend after seeing them interact. Andy was usually the only person I saw Derek joke around with. Though, he didn’t seem to be joking around today. His face was perfectly stoic as he stared straight ahead.

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